Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Luke 15:11-24

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

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It is quite absurd for a son to ask his father for the inheritance when his father is still alive and well, it’s such an insult to the father. Yet the father in Jesus’ story did as the younger son requested anyway. After getting all these money, the younger son went away and lived a wild life like the lottery winners would. Soon, the younger son went broke just as the lottery winners usually do.

The younger son was so broke that he had to live in a pigpen, and he was so hungry that he was willing to eat pig fodder. In the midst of his miserable life, he thought of his father. He was so ashamed of what he did to his father, and he couldn’t imagine ever being forgiven by his father. But it is better to become a slave in his father’s house than starving to death in the pigpen.

However, the younger son didn’t know that there wasn’t a day his father didn’t sit by the door, and to wait for his return. As soon as the father recognized the shape of his son from far, he jumped up and ran to his son regardless of his nobility and what the neighbors may think.

Before the younger son could plead for the forgiveness, the father had the servant putting on his son the best rob that represents nobility, and the ring that represents heirship. They even killed a pricy fat calf for the celebration of the younger son’s return.

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” – This is how God, our Heavenly Father, feels when we return to Him. What is that you are looking for in the midst of your miserable life? Is it alcohol, sex or money? Is it something that leaves you nothing but a void in your heart? When it’s all that you thought you deserve, our Heavenly Father is waiting to give you something way better, and He is waiting to give you love and to share with you His glory.